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PAYLOAD

Truck Payload and Towing:
What’s the Difference?

July 30, 2019 by admin 3 Comments

Shop for a pickup truck and you’ll find a bunch of numbers associated with that vehicle. And we’re not just talking about sticker price, packages, and options. Indeed, the numbers that count most for some include payload and towing. The first one may be more of a mystery than the second, but both feature certain characteristics that make these figures interesting.


2017 Nissan Titan XD vehicle
This 2017 Nissan Titan XD is designed to pull up to 12,000 pounds.

Truck Payload, Towing, and More

Truck payload

A truck’s payload is measured by a few things, including the weight of the passengers and the gear inside the vehicle as well as the weight of everything in the truck bed. In some cases, manufacturers add the weight of the fluids (e.g., motor oil, transmission fluid, coolant) to determine the safest carrying weight possible. You should know that the payload is an important factor in truck sales.

So, if you have a five-passenger pickup and the published payload limit is 1,250 pounds, then the weight of the passengers combined with the gear inside the cabin and the truck bed should not exceed that number. Any amount above that limit could adversely affect steering, handling, and the suspension system. Therefore, it is both a safety and structural issue.

Towing capacity

Pickup trucks typically tout their tow ratings, front and center. Moreover, like payload, a truck’s towing capability is an important factor for consumers.

Manufacturers routinely supply towing limits based on several factors, including the vehicle’s drivetrain (i.e., two- or four-wheel drive), engine size and type (i.e., gasoline or diesel), cab size, axle ratio, cargo box volume, and standard v. hitch towing. Certainly, the numbers can vary greatly from model to model, but even within the same model range, you’ll find some enormous differences.


A dual rear axle pickup truck offers robust towing capabilities.

For instance, peruse any pickup truck towing guide from a manufacturer and you’ll find a detailed chart outlining a model’s conventional towing capability. Typically, conventional towing covers truck’s with a trailer hitch receiver, one that is usually installed at the factory.

With full-size pickup trucks, you may find a second set of numbers under 5th-Wheel or Gooseneck Hitch. A gooseneck hitch (welded or mounted on a rail in the truck bed) is for recreational uses, while a 5th-wheel hitch is for industrial purposes. As for the 5th-wheel hitch, it connects to a hitch by means of a king pin along with a plate that sits on top of the fifth-wheel hitch plate. The towing numbers for both are similar, although not always the same. In any case, consult the manufacturer’s towing chart to determine the correct capacity.

GVWR

While payload and towing numbers are fairly straightforward, you may run across another term, GVWR that seems strange. GVWR stands for “gross vehicle weight rating” and is the maximum value for what your vehicle can safely weigh, including payload. For instance, if your truck weighs 4,500 pounds and has a payload of 2,000 pounds, then its GVWR is 6,500 pounds. Keep in mind that GVWR has nothing to do with what a truck can tow.

What You Should Know

Before you consider towing, there are a few matters you should know.

1. Opt for a separate braking system. Some manufacturers recommend consumers opt for a separate braking system, especially if they’re pulling a certain weight, such as 1,500 pounds or more per the Ford Motor Company. This could be electronically controlled brakes, electric-over-hydraulic (EOH) trailer brakes, or surge brakes.

2. Tow only after your truck’s break-in period is over. Don’t buy a truck with the idea of towing immediately. Like any vehicle, your pickup truck has a break-in period, usually covering the first 1,000 miles.


The Chevrolet Silverado offers outstanding payload and towing limits.

3. Weigh your truck. When you’re ready to tow, weigh it. This means you’ll want to head to the nearest scale with your truck, trailer, passengers, and everything in it. For a nominal fee ($10.50 for the first weigh, $2.00 for the second weigh on a CAT Scale as of this writing), you can find out if you’re within the weight tolerances.

4. Consider your other equipment. Besides a separate braking system, you need to ensure the trailer has a set of authorized lights not connected to the truck’s standard lighting system. The correct trailer wiring harness and safety chains are also essential. Finally, verify that all tires have sufficient air, at least one conventional spare matching the other tires is present, and the weight is evenly distributed.

Pickup Truck Chatter

So, there you have it. A primer about payload and towing differences with GVWR and tow tips are thrown in. We’ll take a deeper dive about all things towing in a future article. Meanwhile, be safe out there and practice towing before you hit the road.


See Also — Ram Chassis Cab is Here and Brings With it Class-Leading Numbers

Photos copyright Auto Trends Magazine. All rights reserved.

Filed Under: Special Tagged With: 5th-wheel towing, gooseneck towing, GVWR, PAYLOAD, PICKUP TRUCK, scale, TOWING, trailering

Ram Chassis Cab is Here and Brings With it Class-Leading Numbers

February 8, 2019 by admin

2019 Ram 5500 Chassis Cab Limited.
2019 Ram 5500 Chassis Cab Limited.

Ram pickup trucks are tearing up the market, thanks in part to an all-new model that’s “bringing it” to the segment. That model is none other than the Ram 1500, which is the brand’s standard full-size truck.

But the 1500 is also joined by a pair of heavy-duty models, the 2500 and 3500. These two vehicles help Ram claim the highest performance, payload and towing numbers in the business.

Ahead of the Chicago Auto Show this week, we began to hear rumblings of something new from Ram. One rumor was quickly confirmed — an available 60/40 split tailgate, giving Ram a viable option to GMC’s “trick” gate.

All-New Ram Chassis Cab

Fortunately, Ram isn’t stopping there. Fiat Chrysler’s truck brand announced that it is releasing all-new chassis cab models. These updated trucks (3500, 4500, and 5500) come with a Cummins 6.7-liter turbo-diesel six-cylinder engine with an output of 360 horsepower and 800 pound-feet of torque. Buyers can also select a 6.4-liter gasoline V8 engine. Both engines work with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Yes, these diesel performance numbers are lower than what the standard Ram 3500 delivers, but that’s okay — the real proof of what the new chassis cab does is in another set of numbers.

And those numbers put Ram Commercial at the top of the segment as this pickup truck has a Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) of 43,000 pounds. Moreover, the new Ram supplies 35,200 pounds of towing and a payload capacity of 12,510 pounds. Thus, Ram can claim top numbers ahead of its competitors: Ford and Chevrolet/GMC.

2019 Ram Chassis Cab

Upfit and Outfit

At the press conference announcing the new models, a Ram spokesman noted the new trucks may be outfitted to serve in a variety of ways. As such, Ram displayed models that included a bucket truck, a crew cab with a horse trailer, and other work vehicles. The spokesman also suggested the chassis cab could be converted into an ambulance and that’s something we don’t usually see from Ram.

The new chassis cab is stronger and lighter than before thanks to the truck maker utilizing 97-percent high-strength steel frames. Thus, torsional rigidity is up, while weight is down — by approximately 120 pounds.

Tech and Style Highlights

Ram equips the chassis cab with UConnect 4C with a 12-inch display. The package includes the latest audio entertainment with SiriusXM with 360L. Other updates include a “reimagined” center console with a functional workspace featuring more than a dozen different storage layouts. It also has a wider docking area for optional wireless charging and has three USB ports (with two more in the rear).

A pair of available 115-volt three-prong plugs is designed to handle up to 400 watts for charging electronic devices or power tools. Moreover, folding up the rear bench seat reveals an additional contained storage space with under-seat compartments.

Four different grille styles accompany the 2019 Ram Chassis Cab, with not a crosshairs look to be found. The new bumper has larger openings, which supply greater airflow to the turbo intercooler. Ram also integrated proximity sensors to make them less obvious. You’ll find three headlamp variations, including an adaptive front lighting system. Finally, a new shark antenna handles radio, Wi-Fi, navigation and SiriusXM 360L.

Ram Commercial Truck

The Hit Parade

Ram continues to chalk up big gains and that’s a reflection of an automaker anticipating customer needs. Despite all the superlatives gushed at the news conference (e.g., massive, big, best-in-class, powerful) Ram appears to put up with those claims. That’s another salvo fired across the bow of both Ford and GM.


Photos copyright Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

Filed Under: Auto Shows, New Models Tagged With: Chicago Auto Show, GVWR, PAYLOAD, PICKUP TRUCKS, RAM, Ram chassis cab, TOWING, turbo-diesel, V8 engine

Midnight Edition: 2018 Nissan Titan

May 21, 2018 by admin 5 Comments

On the road with the Titan of all trucks.

2018 Nissan Titan Crew Cab SL Midnight Edtion.
2018 Nissan Titan Crew Cab SL Midnight Edtion.

Pickup trucks are the meat of the auto industry, supplying the profits manufacturers need to shore up their operations. This fact is much more pertinent to the traditional US truck manufacturers — GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler — than to competitors such as Nissan, Toyota and Honda.

Indeed, all three traditional Japanese companies have done well with cars and their respective luxury brands, but they also must supply pickup trucks to meet customer demand.

Nissan has two offerings in the mix: its midsize Frontier and full-size Titan/Titan XD. The latter pair fulfills most of the models customers want. Like Toyota, Nissan still leaves the heavy-duty market to the Big Three, with maximum tow ratings and dual axles among them.

2018 Nissan Titan

Nissan Titan: Then and Now

The Nissan Titan rolled out in 2004 and was the first full-size Japanese pickup truck capable of taking on the Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150, GMC Sierra and the Dodge Ram 1500.

Initially, demand was strong, although sales never approached Detroit levels. Nissan kept with this model for 12 long years, with sales bottoming out at 12,140 units in 2015 — less than one-seventh of the peak number attained in 2005.

Fortunately, two new models were in the planning stages, beginning with the 2016 Titan XD, a vehicle occupying the white space between light- and heavy-duty pickup trucks and the 2017 Titan, the official replacement for the first-generation model. Nissan did not offer a 2016 Titan.

2018 Nissan Titan

2018 Nissan Titan Overview and Updates

The 2018 Nissan Titan delivers a few changes, including an all-new King Cab, joining the previous Crew and Single Cab models. A few appearance packages are new too, including the Midnight Edition on my test Titan Crew Cab SL model.

Nissan offers the 2018 Titan with standard rear-wheel drive (4×2) and available four-wheel drive (4×4) configurations. The bed length availability varies by cab length. Nissan supplies one powertrain choice: a V8 engine paired with an automatic transmission.

As I have covered this model and the Titan XD extensively before — here, here and here — this time we will drill down and review some of the finer points about Nissan’s largest model. As you might imagine, there is a wealth of details of interest to pickup truck shoppers.

1. A Titan of Flavors

While the first-generation Nissan Titan offered extended (King) and Crew Cab configurations, it lacked a Single Cab option. It was not a big deal for most shoppers as only a small number opt for regular cab models anyway. Still, to be considered a serious player in this business, offering all three means Nissan has something for everyone.

The single cab offers a three-place bench seat, the King Cab has bucket seats up front and a three-place bench seat in the rear (although the rear seat can be deleted), while the Crew Cab matches the King Cab and delivers more cabin room to go with it.

Naturally, the Crew Cab is the roomiest of them all, delivering large knobs, big storage areas and lots of room to maneuver. If you are making the move from a competing brand, you will find the Titan matches up nicely with the best. It stops short of some of the excess offered (here is looking at you, F-150 Platinum), but you can get leather, heated seats and a heated steering wheel.

2018 Nissan Titan

(See Also — A Whole Lot of Awesome: Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison)

2. Choose Your Trim

Most Nissan products offer upwards of four trims. With the Titan, you have five: S, SV, PRO-4X, SL and Platinum Reserve. On SV and SL models, you can layer the Midnight Edition trim, but only on Crew Cab Models.

The Midnight Edition is new this year, advancing a now common “blacked out” look found on special editions of most full-size pickup trucks. Here, you will find a body-color grille with dark insert, dark headlamps, black fog lamp finisher, black exterior badging, black mirrors and door handles, 20-inch black wheels, body color front and rear bumpers, black step rails and a dark charcoal interior trim. The ME supplies an aggressive look, although some may find it too overpowering for their tastes.

I generally avoid recommending the base model for any vehicle and that holds true for the 2018 Titan. The base model lacks the chrome exterior trim, available satellite radio and trailer sway control common to this segment. Therefore the SV is a good place to start, with the SL offering perhaps the best bang for the buck. That said, expect your sticker price to approach $50,000 for a Crew Cab four-wheel drive model. Discounts are available, so educate yourself about the current offers.

3. One Powerful Powertrain

2018 Nissan TitanChoose a full-size pickup truck and you will find a powerful engine paired with a capable transmission. Nissan keeps things simple by offering just one powertrain combination: a 5.6-liter V8 engine with 390 horsepower and 394 pound-feet of torque. A seven-speed automatic transmission routes power to the wheels.

This combination delivers the performance you need, moving the Titan a long at a steady clip. Of course, this model weighs nearly three tons, so the engine must be up to the task. We have been waiting for Nissan to sign off on a V6 engine for the Titan, but it has not happened yet. Likely, it will be most suitable for lighter duty applications, but we shall see.

Nissan makes it easy to dial in four-wheel drive, with the expected high and low ranges available. The one thing about taking the Titan off-road is that this truck is so darn big! It can handle light and moderate off-road work just fine, but if you intend to punish it, then opting for the PRO-4X version equipped with all-terrain tires, Bilstein shocks, and an electronic locking rear differential with the included active brake limited slip (ABLS, what senses wheelspin and brakes accordingly) is the best course of action.

4. Payload and Towing

2018 Nissan TitanPayload and towing are important numbers for any pickup truck. When it comes to the full-size Titan, the big numbers are where you expect to find them: with the Single Cab.

The Single Cab delivers a payload rating of 1,940 pounds (1,950 with 4WD) and towing of 9,740 pounds (9,470 with 4WD). King Cab payload numbers are 1,600/1,630 pounds and towing comes in at 9,400/9,240 pounds. With the Crew Cab, your numbers are 1,590/1,610 pounds for payload and 9,400/9,230 pounds for towing. Customers expect at least a 1,500-pound payload limit and trailering of at least 8,000 pounds with their big trucks. Happily, the 2018 Titan gets the job done.

As a side note, if you need payload pushing 3,000 pounds and towing of about six tons, the Titan XD is your better choice.

5. A Mixed Bag of Technologies

What is the Nissan Titan’s weakest link? Surely, all manufacturers have one. In this case, I found the infotainment interface disappointing. Ram and GM offer much better and easier to use systems; Ford has come along way with its SYNC interface. Toyota is perhaps the weakest of all, especially with its available Scout GPS directions app. That app is not dependable as our family has learned with our 2017 RAV4.

As for the model at hand, the screen is smaller than what we like and has a dated appearance. The standard screen measures five inches, while the available larger screen measures seven inches. You still cannot have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone compatibility and there is just one USB port at the ready. The standard six-speaker audio system is what you would expect to find in a pickup truck. The available 12-speaker Rockford Fosgate package turns things up nicely.

Bluetooth is standard and a 110-volt power outlet is an option. Navigation is another option. All models have a rearview monitor and you can get blind spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert.

2018 Nissan Titan
The optional Titan boxes are located on inside of the cab. Both boxes holds dozens of drinks and ice.
A drain on the bottom lets water out.

Parting Thoughts: 2018 Nissan Titan

So, where does the Nissan Titan stand in a highly competitive segment? In some areas, the Titan is in the thick of things with its powerful V8 engine. Its transmission, however, now trails some models, including Ford with its 10-speed automatic.

Moreover, if you want a different engine choice, you are out of luck. Toyota offers two V8 engine choices, while the US competitors have as many as five options for consumers, including a turbo-diesel. The Cummins diesel in the XD might work here, but it is geared toward power, not efficiency. Notably, Ford, GM and Ram each offer a 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V6 engine available with highway mileage approaching 30 mpg.

Although the Titan gets it done in most areas, it trails the top competitors. That fact might not matter much with Nissan faithful, but it makes it nearly impossible for Nissan to poach shoppers from the Big Three.

2018 Nissan Titan

2018 Nissan Titan Crew Cab Specifications

Nissan 2018 Titan Crew Cab
Segment Full-size pickup truck
Base Sticker Price $35,680 ( plus $1,295 destination charge)
Price as tested $51,610 (SL Midnight Edition 4×4)
Standard Engine 5.6-liter, V8
Horsepower 390 @ 5,800 RPMs
Torque (lb.-ft.) 394 @ 4,000 RPMs
Transmission Seven-speed automatic
Seating 5
Curb Weight (pounds) 5,911
Wheelbase (inches) 139.8
Length (inches) 228.1
Width (inches) 79.5
Height (inches) 76.0
Head room (f,r…inches) 41.0; 40.4
Leg room (f,r…inches) 41.8, 38.5
Shoulder room (f,r…inches) 63.3, 63.6
Hip room (f,r…inches) 60.8, 60.3
Storage (inches) 66
Gross vehicle weight (pounds) 7,300
Towing (pounds) 9,230
Payload (pounds) 1,610
Fuel Regular
Fuel Tank (gallons) 26
EPA Fuel MPG (city/highway) 15/21
Manufacturing Plant Canton, Mississippi

See Also — Bestseller: 2018 Nissan Rogue

2018 Nissan Titan photos copyright Auto Trends Magazine. All rights reserved.

Filed Under: New Car Reviews Tagged With: 2018 Titan, 2018 trucks, Chevrolet Silverado, CREW CAB, FORD F-150, four-wheel drive, GMC SIERRA, Midnight Edition, NISSAN, Nissan Titan, Nissan Titan XD, PAYLOAD, RAM 1500, TOWING, TOYOTA TUNDRA

Bigly Pickup Truck: Nissan Titan Crew Cab

April 19, 2017 by admin 8 Comments

Nissan’s all-new Titan strikes a responsive chord.

2017 Nissan Titan SL Crew Cab 4x4
2017 Nissan Titan SL Crew Cab 4×4.

Of the six major automakers with a presence in the US, Nissan is easily outpacing the other five. General Motors, Ford, Fiat Chrysler, Toyota and Honda looked on in envy last year as Nissan posted double-digit sales gains. Even as the market begins to pull back slightly, Nissan continues to outpace the pack.

The Nissan Rogue is the biggest contributor to the brand’s success, so much so that March’s sales tally was close to 40,000 units. Through the first quarter this year, Nissan has sold more than 111,000 Rogues, outpacing the Toyota Camry — America’s perennial best-selling car.

Not all models sell anywhere near as close to the Rogue, but not a few are contributing records sales. The Nissan Titan, a full-size pickup truck, topped 5,500 units sold last month, a record. Although this number is roughly equal to the number of F-150 trucks Ford sales every three days, it is still noteworthy.

After all, until the 2017 Titan redesign — following the introduction of the Titan XD in 2016 — achieving monthly sales of 1,000 units was no small feat. Today, large pickup truck shoppers see the Titan/Titan XD and like what the duo offers.

2017 Nissan Titan SL Crew Cab 4x4

Nissan Titan or Nissan Titan XD

I’ve spent ample time driving and reviewing both the Titan XD and the Titan. If you follow these pages, you already are familiar with my explanation outlining the differences between the two — the Titan is the standard pickup truck, while the Titan XD fills the white space between light- and heavy-duty full-size pickup trucks.

That also means Nissan isn’t participating in the heavy-duty class, continuing to allow Ford, Chevrolet/GMC, and Ram to control the market. At the same time, the Titan XD provides upwards of 12,000 pounds of towing capacity without the steep price of the heavy duties.

Following the Titan XD’s introduction in 2016, the redesigned Nissan Titan launched in 2017. The first-generation model lasted an uncommonly long 12 years — from 2004 to 2015 — there was no 2016 model.

2017 Nissan Titan SL Crew Cab 4x4

2017 Nissan Titan Trims

The 2017 Nissan Titan comes with standard rear-wheel drive and available four-wheel drive. Single and crew cab options are available; there is no extended cab. At least not as of this writing.

The Titan single cab is available in two trims: S ($29,580) and SV ($32,460) plus a $1,195 destination charge. Add $3,030 for four-wheel drive.

2017 Nissan Titan SL Crew Cab 4x4The Titan crew cab is available in five trims: S ($34,780), SV ($37,670), PRO-4X ($45,020), SL ($46,380) and Platinum Reserve ($52,310). The same destination charge applies here, but the four-wheel drive premium ranges from $3,030 to $3,090, depending on the trim. The PRO-4X does, by the way, come in four-wheel drive only.

My test model was the four-wheel-drive crew cab dressed in SL trim. Nissan was tame with the packages, including offering only the towing convenience package ($360), pushing the final price to $51,015. At this trim, there are three other packages available: chrome ($1,200), Texas ($1,250), and off-road ($400). I should point out the chrome and Texas packages are an either or proposition — both make important changes to the exterior, with one geared toward fanciness along the lines of GMC’s Denali trim and the other advancing a southwestern look commonly available in this segment.

The off-road package is, by the way, rolled into the chrome and Texas packages. All told, you could pay as much as $52,265 to drive away in a 2017 Nissan Titan Crew Cab SL 4×4.

My test model came with a broad front fascia amplified by LED lights, a massive hood, side vents with “Endurance” badging, and alloy wheels. At the rear is a locking tailgate with a retractable step bumper. A bed management system with rails and hooks is also present.

If there is anything of concern I would have about the exterior is the strength of the retractable step. It held my near-200 pound weight just fine, but some of you guys are beefier, topping 300 pounds…easily! I couldn’t find any information about a weight limit. Personally, I like GM’s corner step bumpers the best in this segment.

2017 Nissan Titan SL Crew Cab 4x4

Sizable Interior and Generous Amenities

The Titan Crew Cab seats five with generously portioned and comfortable bucket seats up front and a 60/40 split fold-up seat in the second row. That second-row seat also conceals an in-floor storage compartment, ideal for hiding tools and other pricey items out of the sight of prying eyes. Sure, you could still use an in-bed toolbox, but if you’re concerned about theft, the in-floor storage compartment is a nifty feature.

Full-size pickup trucks offer the most interior room of any two-row vehicle on the market. Nearly everything seems larger too — from the massive instrument cluster to a sizable center stack. I especially liked the oversized covered storage area between the seats — it is a great place to stash a laptop or a purse. You’ll also find in-door storage areas with two drink holders and a storage pocket. Four cup holders and seatback pockets are also present.

The Titan SL comes well equipped, adding leather seats, heated front seats, a 12-speaker Rockford Fosgate audio system, a power-sliding back window with defroster, and a power tilt and telescoping steering column to the list of features.

This model already comes with full power accessories and six airbags. You’ll also find trailer sway control, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, and a front and rear sonar system for ease of parking.

Under the Hood and On/Off the Road

For now, the lone powertrain choice is a 5.6-liter, V8 gasoline engine, also available in the Titan XD. The V8 makes 390 horsepower and 394 pound-feet of torque and comes paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission. A V6 engine arrives later, but it will be available with the single cab only. The EPA rates this model at 15 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway.

2017 Nissan Titan SL Crew Cab 4x4No, the Cummins 5.0-liter turbo-diesel available in the Titan XD is not available in the standard Titan. I asked a Nissan spokesman about this discrepancy and his answer was decidedly noncommittal. That means either the diesel will stay with the larger model or arrive later. Personally, I think Nissan would do well to make the Cummins as widely available as possible.

As for the V8, it is entirely suited for the task. No, I didn’t have anything to tow, but with 9,730 pounds of towing capacity and a 1,930-pound payload limit, for the single cab, you have a hard worker at the ready. Choose the crew cab and those numbers fall to 9,390 and 1,610 pounds, respectively. But still highly competitive.

Some pickup truck engines seem to strain under the load or offer long shift points between gears. Not so with the Nissan. The Titan isn’t quick off the mark, but as speed builds, it moves with authority. Passing power is excellent and I imagine if you were to tow, you’d be happy with the Titan just as you would with a Ford F-150, Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra or Toyota Tundra.

If you choose the four-wheel-drive model, you’ll find a switch-operated two-speed transfer case for shift-on-the-fly action — at speeds up to 60 mph. I’ve taken both the Titan and Titan XD off road several times and can vouch that each one is up to the task.

Parting Thoughts

The 2017 Nissan Titan in Crew Cab form should meet the needs of most buyers. It is a highly capable truck with a ladder frame and the on- and off-road credentials to go with it.

As with any large truck, prices can jump very quickly. For a well-equipped four-wheel drive model, expect to shop in the $45,000 range. At the same time, discounting in this segment is rampant — knocking $5,000 off your price shouldn’t be that difficult, especially as we head further into the model year.
2017 Nissan Titan SL Crew Cab 4x4

2017 Nissan Titan SL 4WD CC Specifications

Nissan Titan
Segment Full-Size Pickup Truck
Base Sticker Price $49,460
Price as Tested $51,015
Standard Engine 5.6-liter, V8
Transmission Seven-speed automatic
Horsepower 390 @ 5,800
Torque (lb.-ft.) 394 @ 4,000
Seating 2+3
Curb Weight (pounds) 5,684
Wheelbase (inches) 139.8
Length (inches) 228.5
Width (inches) 79.5 (without mirrors)
Height (inches) 77.2
Head room (f,r — inches) 41.0, 40.4
Leg room (f,r — inches) 41.8, 38.5
Shoulder room (f,r — inches) 63.3, 63.6
Hip room (f,r — inches) 60.8, 60.3
Storage (bed length) 67.0 inches
Gross vehicle weight (pounds) 7,300
Towing (pounds) 9,230 (tow package)
Payload (pounds) 1,620 (tow package)
Fuel regular
Fuel Tank (gallons) 26.0
EPA Fuel MPG (city/highway) 15/21
Manufacturing Plant Canton, Mississippi

2017 Nissan Titan SL Crew Cab 4x4
2017 Nissan Titan SL Crew Cab 4x4
2017 Nissan Titan SL Crew Cab 4x4
2017 Nissan Titan SL Crew Cab 4x4
2017 Nissan Titan SL Crew Cab 4x4
2017 Nissan Titan SL Crew Cab 4x4
2017 Nissan Titan SL Crew Cab 4x4
2017 Nissan Titan SL Crew Cab 4x4

Filed Under: New Car Reviews Tagged With: 2017 trucks, Chevrolet Silverado, FORD F-150, four-wheel drive, GMC SIERRA, Nissan Titan, Nissan Titan XD, PAYLOAD, PICKUP TRUCKS, RAM 1500, TOWING, TOYOTA TUNDRA, V8 engine

New 2017 Ford Super Duty Lifts the Bar

July 19, 2016 by admin 5 Comments

Payload, towing, and engine performance levels take a hike.

2017 Ford F-350 Lariat Crew Cab 4×4
2017 Ford F-350 Lariat Crew Cab 4×4.

The Ford Super Duty is the heavy duty version of the Ford F-Series, the best-selling pickup truck line in America. Along with the F-150, the Super Duty has enabled Ford to maintain its leadership in the segment for nearly four decades.

The F-150 was overhauled in 2015 and two years later the Super Duty gets its turn. The all-new model goes on sale this fall and Ford says that it will leave its competitors behind. Those competitors are comprised of the Ram 2500/3500, Chevrolet Silverado HD, and the GMC Sierra HD. Toyota and Nissan have full-size trucks too, but they’re absent from the heavy-duty market.

2017 Ford Super Duty

Like the current-generation F-150, the 2017 Ford Super Duty is outfitted with high-strength, military-grade, aluminum alloy as well as high-strength steel. The transition to the current metals means Ford was able to reduce vehicle weight by up to 350 pounds, an effort that allows the truck maker to enjoy benefits elsewhere.

Ford says the truck’s neoteric fully boxed frame is composed of more than 95 percent high-strength steel and is up to 24 times stiffer than the previous model. As a result, the 2017 Super Duty will see marked improvements in towing and hauling capacities.

Topping the Towing Charts

For Super Duty trucks powered by the 6.7-liter, Power Stroke V-8 Turbo Diesel engine, gooseneck towing rises to 32,500 pounds up from 31,200 pounds for the 2016 model.

Fifth-wheel towing capacity is now 27,500 pounds, up from 26,500 pounds. Conventional towing climbs to 21,000 pounds, up from 19,000 pounds. The maximum payload capacity is now rated at up 7,630 pounds, providing a significant boost over the previous 7,050-pound limit.

Other changes can be found in engine performance. The turbo diesel makes 440 horsepower and 925 foot-pounds of torque (previously 860 lb.-ft.). The 6.2-liter, gasoline V-8 also gets a performance upgrade and will make 385 horsepower and 440 foot-pounds of torque (previously 405 lb.-ft.). Each of these numbers applies to the F-450.

With the all-new model, Ford claims leadership in a number of categories. Without naming its competitors, Ford says the 2017 Super Duty now claims a gooseneck towing edge of 1,290 pounds over the next closest model. Further, the Ford has a 2,500-pound lead in fifth-wheel towing and a 1,000-pound edge in conventional towing.

As for F-250 and F-350 Super Duty models, the maximum conventional towing with the F-250 equipped with an all-new trailer tow package and the F-350 with a single-rear-wheel tops out at a class-leading 18,000 pounds.

New Safety Technologies

On the technology front, the 2017 Super Duty becomes the first truck to offer adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support for heavy trailers, a technology the company says enables truckers to negotiate steep mountain grades while sustaining speeds even when trailering 32,500 pounds.

The Super Duty also offers a center high-mounted stop lamp camera, what provides visibility into the cargo box. This feature is particularly beneficial when connecting both gooseneck and fifth-wheel trailers. The “Ultimate Trailer Tow Camera System” is composed of four digital, high-definition cameras to provide the driver with a 360-degree bird’s-eye view surrounding their Super Duty.

Also, “Trailer Reverse Guidance” supplies visual cues and tips to help ease backing up a trailer. Moreover, a first-ever factory-available trailer camera can also be custom-placed on a trailer to improve visibility while backing up.

Light or Heavy Duty Truck

Ford is on pace to sell 800,000 F-Series this year as sales are up by more than 10 percent in a segment where sales are up just over 7 percent. An all-new Super Duty should help matters, enabling Ford to put more distance between the F-150 and Chevy’s Silverado, and extend its sales streak to 40 years.


Further Reading

Ford: All-New 3.5-Liter, V-6 Engine Offers Significant Power Boost

Aluminum Super Duty: 2017 Ford F-350 Platinum 4WD

Photo copyright the Ford Motor Company.

Filed Under: Automotive News Tagged With: 2017 SUPER DUTY, 2017 trucks, CHEVROLET SILVERADO HD, FORD SUPER DUTY, HEAVY-DUTY TRUCK, PAYLOAD, POWER STROKE, RAM 2500, TOWING, turbodiesel

At a Glance: 2.7-Liter Ford EcoBoost Engine

July 28, 2014 by admin 3 Comments

New EcoBoost engine makes the power grade.

The 2015 model year will bring yet another new engine to the Ford product line, a 2.7-liter V-6. That engine follows four-cylinder engines displacing at 1.5- and 2.3-liters, being utilized in the Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKC respectively, as well as in other models.

2015 Ford F-150.
Ford puts the new F-150 through the paces in Arizona.

EcoBoost Engines

All three engines are based on Ford’s proprietary EcoBoost technology, what marries direct injection, turbochargers and variable valve lift timing to produce more powerful engines on a smaller footprint. The 2.7-liter V-6 will be introduced in the 2015 Ford F-150 when it goes on sale this fall.

Last week, Ford shared some information about the new V-6, including horsepower, torque and towing details. What it did not offer were the truck’s fuel economy estimates, expected to come in somewhere around 27 mpg. That would make the F-150 the most efficient gas-powered, full-size pickup truck on the market, coming in just shy of the Ram 1500 equipped with a 3.0-liter turbo diesel V-6.

Optional EcoBoost Engine

The new truck engine offers twin-turbo power and makes 325 horsepower and 375 foot-pounds of torque. Because the new truck comes in as much as 732 pounds lighter than its predecessor, thanks to vehicle light-weighting, the new engine provides similar power as found in the 2014 Ford F-150 equipped with a 5.0-liter V-8 engine. Ford says that an F-150 42 will have a maximum payload rating of 2,250 pounds and a maximum tow rating of 8,500 pounds, what Ford describes as “meeting mid-range capability needs.”

Ford is not simply relying on a smaller engine and vehicle light-weighting to improve fuel mileage for 2015. It is introducing automatic start–stop technology for this pickup truck line too. Just as it is found elsewhere, the technology will shut the engine off when the vehicle comes to a stop. The moment the brake is released, the engine restarts immediately. The advantage here is in the reduction in both the amount of fuel consumed and emissions released. Ford has also designed the technology to deactivate whenever the vehicle is towing or is operating in four-wheel-drive mode.

Standard Engine

The new EcoBoost engine is not the standard engine in the 2015 Ford F–150. A normally aspirated 3.5-liter V-6 engine replaces the previous 3.7-liter V-6 used in the 2014 model. Ford says that the standard engine has a maximum payload of 1,910 pounds and a maximum tow rating of 7,600 pounds. The standard engine features twin independent variable camshaft timing along with direct acting polished mechanical buckets. Other efficiencies were realized by updating the bearing caps, the forged steel crankshaft as well as the exhaust manifolds.

“The 2015 F-150 is the most capable F-150 yet, while shedding up to 700 pounds,” said Bob Fascetti, vice president, Powertrain Engineering. “These two new V6 engines – the 2.7-liter turbocharged EcoBoost and normally aspirated 3.5-liter Ti-VCT – set a new standard for Ford for capability and efficiency.”

Taking on Tacoma

While Ford certainly has both Ram and Chevrolet in its crosshairs as it updates its most popular model, this truck manufacturer has also taken on a midsize truck from Toyota when releasing its numbers. Specifically, Ford noted that both its F-150 and the Toyota Tacoma offer engines displacing at the same size, namely at 2.7 liters.

Ford noted that its engine produces more than twice the horsepower, torque and towing capabilities of its smaller competitor. The Ford also has an 825-pound edge in the payload department. Essentially, Ford may be demonstrating that while it does not have a smaller truck to offer customers, it has a larger truck that sizes up well against both large and smaller competitors alike.

Best-Selling Pickup Truck

The Ford Motor Company is looking to retain its place as the best-selling pickup truck in America, a feat that is approaching 40 years running. It is making a big, some might say risky move, to go with an aluminum body truck for the new model year. But it may be just the effort Ford needs to maintain that position going forward.


See Also — Updated 2018 Ford F-150 Features New Gas and Diesel Engines

Photo courtesy of the Ford Motor Company.

Filed Under: New Models Tagged With: 2.7-LITERS, 2015 MODELS, Chevrolet, EcoBoost, Ford, FORD F-150, PAYLOAD, PICKUP TRUCK, RAM, TOWING, Toyota Tacoma, TWIN TURBO

Ram Expands Product Line With ProMaster City

July 3, 2014 by admin 2 Comments

Third van model for Ram brand arrives in 2015.

Ram Promaster City
The Ram ProMaster City is a small Fiat in disguise.

With Chrysler separated Ram from Dodge, the move was deemed by some as a curious one. Especially with a line up that consisted solely of midsize, large and heavy duty pickup trucks.

The Ram Dakota occupied the midsize segment, but was canceled in 2011. The next year the Ram Cargo Van, based on the automaker’s minivans, made its debut. Still, the product line was a thin one until Fiat-supplied models began to appear for the 2014 model year.

That first model, the Ram ProMaster is based on the Fiat Ducato, a larger van that competes with the Nissan NV, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and the upcoming Ford Transit. By early next year a second model, the Fiat ProMaster City, will debut and serve as Ram’s small commercial van. Based on the Fiat Doblo, the latest Ram offering will compete with the Ford Transit Connect and the Nissan NV200.

2015 Ram ProMaster City

The 2015 Ram ProMaster City will be available in eight different configurations including cargo and wagon variants. Security panels, rear and side windows are among the differences between each model. Commercial versions will seat two people, while the passenger models will seat five.

Under the hood, each model is powered by a 2.4-liter four cylinder engine and paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It is rated at 178 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and makes 174 foot-pounds of torque at 3,900 rpm. The van is built in Bursa, Turkey, and then sent to the Chrysler Group Transformation Center in Baltimore, Maryland for final upfitting.

The Ram ProMaster City will give this model several important edges over its competitors. Although fuel mileage projections have yet to be announced, the ProMaster City is expected to beat out the combined 24 mpg of the Nissan NV200.

Other areas where it will lead include its wheelbase measuring 112.4 inches, the distance between its wheel wells at 48.4 inches, 131.7 cubic feet of cargo volume and 1,883 pounds of payload capacity. Ram also claims wider and taller cargo doors than its competitors.

International Van of the Year

The Fiat Doblo model that the Ram van is based on is not a new one. Indeed, Fiat has sold more than 1.3 million units for a van that has also won International Van of the Year honors twice. Now in its third generation, the front-wheel drive Doblo is a proven scheme that should work well in North America.

Even so, the ProMaster City will provide a number of changes over its Fiat equivalent. Due to the rougher road surfaces in North America, ride height will be raised slightly by 0.4 inches. Chassis components and anchor points will also be upgraded.

To accommodate the TigerShark engine and the transmission, the engine box and front track are widened. A number of structural upgrades will help this vehicle comply with stiffer US safety regulations. All models will be equipped with 16-inch all-season tires to manage increased weight loads.

Front-Wheel Drive and UConnect

The ProMaster City is of unibody construction and front-wheel drive. This layout helps to reduce weigh, lower maintenance costs and improve efficiency. The Ram also benefits from optimal cab and cargo space, very good handling, enhanced traction and greater payload capacity. The City will also have a 2,000-pound towing capacity.

A number of features found in other Chrysler Group models will be offered in the Ram as well. For instance, the automaker’s UConnect interface is available, what allows for hands-free calling by way of Bluetooth technology. A five-inch color display with navigation, an available backup camera and a ParkSense audible warning system are other attributes of this new-to-Ram van.


Additional Van News

Hauled It: 2014 Nissan NV200 Cargo Van

Ford Transit Production is Now Underway

Fiat Chrysler Weights Its Minivan Options


Photo courtesy of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, N.V.

Filed Under: New Models Tagged With: 2015 MODELS, COMMERCIAL VAN, FIAT DOBLO, front-wheel drive, PAYLOAD, RAM PROMASTER CITY, TIGERSHARK ENGINE, wagon

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